Mechanism for stripe coating articles



March 3, 1 w. P. WINTERS ET AL MECHANISM FOR STRIPE COATING ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1951 5 5 SPY WW Y 2 W E VM w w r NNM March 23, 1 w. P. WINTERS ET AL MECHANISM FOR STRIPE COATING ARTICLES 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1951 nJ Mm w mw ML M u W Patented Mar. 23, 1954 MECHANISM FOR STRIPE COATING ARTICLES William P. Winters, Cincinnati, Ohio, and William Pechy, Belmar, N. J assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation oi New Jersey Application July 24, 1951, Serial N 0. 238,204

5 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a mechanism for stripe coating the outer surface of articles, such as containers and container bodies and has particular reference to devices for shielding the spaces between such articles moving in a substantially continuous procession.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of such a mechanism wherein a continuously operating spray may be utilized to apply a stripe of coating material to a plurality of articles moving in spaced and timed orderin a substantially continuous procession, the spaces between the articles being shielded to prevent the spray from contacting the ends of closed articles and the interior of articles with open ends.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein the shielding of the spaces between the articles in the procession is eiiected by a rotatable flat disc having imperforate portions which coincide with and block oii the spaces between th articles.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein the spray of coating material may be entirely diverted from the path of travel of the articles when there are no articles present to receive the coating material.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein the coating device is enclosed in such a manner as to collect and drain away all unused coating material so that adjacent parts of the mechanism may be kept free and clear of this unused coating material.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a machine including the stripe coating mechanism embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view ofa structural detail as taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective schematic view of principal control parts of the mechanism and a wiring diagram of electric apparatus associated with these parts;

As a preferred 'or exemplary embodiment of the invention the drawings disclose a stripe coating mechanism A (Figs. 1 and 3) for applying a stripe of coating material, such as lacquer or the like to the outer surface of soldered side seams B of open end sheet metal can bodies C, moving in spaced and timed order in a substantially continuous procession through a side seam soldering machine D such as the machine shown in United States Patent 1,338,716, issued May 4, 1920, to M. E. Widell, on Soldering Machine, although the invention is equally well adapted to other articles and machines, and to various kinds of coating materials.

In the soldering machine D, the can bodies C move along a straight line path of travelin a horizontal position and in end-to-end relation with substantially equal spaces E between the ends of the bodies, the side seams B being on the under side of the bodies and in longitudinal alignment. The bodies are supported and guided along this straight line path of travel by an outside horn or horse comprising a pair of spaced and parallel lower rods I I and a similarly disposed pair of upper rails I2 which extend longitudinally of the machine. These rods II and rails I2 are secured to overhanging arms I3 which are disposed at spaced intervals and which are fastened to a composite frame structure which constitutes the main frame of the machine and which is indicated generally by the numeral I 4.

Advancement of the can bodies C along the rods II and rails I2 preferably is effected by an endless chain conveyor I6 having spaced gripper dogs I! of the character disclosed in the above mentioned Widell Patent 1;333',716. This conveyor I6 extends in a horizontal position longitudinally of the soldering machine between the upper support and guiderails I2 and operates over a drivingsprocket I8 located at one end of the machine. The sprocket I8 is mounted on and rotates with a driving shaft I9 journaled in a pair of spaced bearings 2| formed in a bracket 22 secured to the main frame structure I4. The driving shaft I 9 is continuously rotated by an endless chain 24 which operates over a sprocket 25 secured to the driving shaft l9 and over a sprocket 26 secured to an auxiliary driving "shaft 21 journaled in a pair of spaced bearings 28 formed in the main frame structure I 4. The auxiliary driving shaft 2'! may be actuated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine; preferably as disclosed in the above mentionedWidellpatent'.

.The stripe coating 1 mechanism A is disposed in concentricity with a vertical bearing 36 of the o main frame structure [4 and issecured to/the bearing to maintain the housing stationary.

A portion of the drain reservoir 35 of the hous- 4 to pass through the slots and adhere to the side seams 8 of the passing can bodies C. The disc 45 is so timed with the conveyor l6 that the leading or forward end of a slot 46 as it approaches the nozzle, aligns with the leading or forwardendor the sideseam of aican body to be sprayed as shown in'Fig. 1 so that spraying of the seam begins at the extreme leading end ot the seam. In a similar manner the following onback endpfna slot 46 as it moves away from r ..the' nozzle; moves out of alignment with the foling 3| extends under the can' body support and guide rails H and encloses'-(exceptlng at the top) a conventional commercial liquid spray noz zle 38 secured in the bottom wall 32 of the housing as shown in Fig. 3. Thez-inozzle is ydisposed in an upright position and at its upper end is provided with a discharge orifice 39 *(Figs. 3 and 4) located below and in vertical alignment with the path. oftravehot-therside:seams B. of. the canbodi'es C for'aspr'aying"arstripexotcoating. material onto the seamsiof the'bodieswmoving :in' the procession supp'ortedsand guided by:- thekrod's l l and rails l2'.-. The :nozzle 38 'issprovidedl' with the usual liquid and air tubes 4 1', 42?:(Fig; 3) which lead to suitable: rsources ofrl the? coating material to :be isprayedionto' ther1can'bodies:=and the airi pressure to: produce: the; desired: spray.

The spray is discharged from theinozzlef'l continuously.

' Control ofrthei'cspray iissulng ffronr theinozzle 38 to prevent projecting the rspray: -upwardly into the spaces E between thezcan bodles1c-moving across thenozzle:preterably isrzefrected by a rotatable fiat, circulanzdisc "45 which: is disposed in a'horizontal position between? the support and guide rods :l I fand'z the nozzle 38: The disc 145 is provided with 'a: plurality oficurved or arcuate elongated segmental :slots :45 infra predetermined .width and lengthf'and: arranged in awcirclerconcentric with .the center "or the disc? The :width of the slots 46* is;such as rto irestrlct the width of=the spray"passing:throughrthem 'sonthat a stripe of a predetermined width- 'willbe applied to the side seams-B of thecan bodies. The-length of the slots 46 preferably is :equa-l to: the length of the seamsltoibe'tsprayed and the distance between the ends 'ofithmslotsgwhichmay be-termed imperforate blocking oriishieldi-ng ion-bridge sections 41 in the disc; .preierablylisuequal to -the "lengthier thespaces'..E-'between thezcanib'odies C in the moving procession.

. The disc 45 :is'ro'tated in timelwlththeiadvancement of. the can .ibodiescaiong: the supportiand guiding rods H and rails l2 ziy e. 'in l timevvith the. travel of the'cconveyor. lli-iiwl 'or this-purpose the"disc45 isridisposed initheiopen top of 1 the i drain' fpan 31 Imithin 2 thei outer: peripheral wall 33,: and is secured to andmtated by' a" vertical. disc shaft 51 The riisclshaft 5 his 'journaled in the bearingtti and 'ai'lowersspacedibearin'g 52 formed on the mainframe structure l4. =:The= disc shaft 5| is rotated=continuously bya-bevelgear 53 which is mounted omth'ea shaft between: the

bearings 36, 52.x This bevel: gear 5'3smeshes with andis driven by atbevei-gearafl whlchis mounted on: the :aux-iliaryidrive shaft 21 which drives the conveyor l 5'; Thus; thevconveyor and the disc are operated zinutlmed: relation.

Asthedisc :45: rotates in timeiiwithathe advancement ofuthexcancibodies alongeth'e support .;.and;: guide .rods ilrleand'railsi I the slots :46 in the disc rotate into positlnmov'er;-thefispray::noz.- zle 38;.aand; permits the: spramitromz, thec-znozzle-z lowing or back end of a sprayed can body as shownz'in'Figz v11st}: that the spraying of the seam is terminated' at the extreme back end of the seami 'Thusthe slots 46 expose the entire length of the seamsof the can bodies to the spray from the nozzle :38nandt the entire length of the seams is thus sprayed with the coating material. the following or back end of a slot 46 passes over the nozzle 38, anlimperforate bridge section 41 vi the: dismzcomesintoz place" over the nozzle :and thus blocks roff onshields the-"space E'between. the endsiofe adjacentwan-T-bodies moving in the procession Land thus prevents thewspray oft coating material frombeing: projected up into space between .the'z bodies; .This prevents" the coating. *material -"fromt'beingdeposited 5 inside/the open .canzxbodiestandsfrom adhering to :adjacent partsrof: thema'chine i Insteadr the-spray is pro- 'jectedcuagainsta the under or" bottom' surface of the disc and falls intoa'thewreservoir 35rwhere it .collects and isdraacinecl away through andrain pipe t 56 -'(Fig. 3) secured inz'the bottom :wall 32 or: the drainzpan 3 L:- Thiszrpipe :may lead to: the source 0157511133131 of :theza coatingumaterial to conserve 1' the aunused material :collected in: the :reservoir.

Iniorder tux-keep the' disc 45 free of; excess coating material *a upair. of scrapers or; blades 51. "58 are: usedzito tclean' the :disc as the discvrotates. The scraper 51 is disposedacrossandpin engagement with the top or outerrface or. the vdisc (seerFigs-xizlr and 2):' awhile-r therscraper 53 vis disposed azcross rand imengagement. with the: lower onr'innerz race of: the disc; These wscrapers a are arranged at a slightareceding .anglecrelative-to thezradius of1 .*the. ':disc sozthat the scraped-off material I.will *flo'w' toward: the outer: edge of .the :rdisczandf fall into the. reservoir 35 by. way or anioffset 'section fia'iformed in; the outer pe- Iripheral wall 3310fthe draimpan' 3L: The: outer ends of ther'scrapersa'. are: secured tomthe outer :wall -oi1thisi offset v section '59 to hold the: scrapers in place.

:Provisiomis ma'de forsshielding. thel'lOZZle ori- 'fice:39 when no zcambody'is ,:inrplac to receive :thecoating material :as .a slot of thefdisc- 45 passes over the nozzle 38. This confinesr: the spray to the reservoir 1351mm IIIEVBIltSPthB spray fromipassing'upvthrough'the passing slot 46;: For -this=. purpose 2a curved-"auxiliary 'sliield or cover :plate 6i (Figs. .3': and 4) is;provided within the reservoir 35 and adjacent the upperz-end of: the nozzle; vTheta-uxiliary shield 6 I is movable horizontally across the top "or thez nozzle :to cover its orifice and for ithls'rpurposesis' mounted one the .lnnerfend. fofrza' horizontal'irod 32: :slideably carried in a bearing 63 formed in the outer peripheralrrwall :33 .ofrthe drainvpan 3|. The outer end of. the rod. isconn'ected :to anupright arm. 6410f a bell crank lever 65 mounted on a pivot pirraBB carried in the!main framevstructure l4: F Arlower warm :6?! to! thibell. cranielever :65: is ;.connected" to wires H, 12, 13to a normally closed electric switch "14 disposed adjacent the can body sup port and guiding rods and'rails ll, [2 and to a source of electric current such as a generator 75. The switch 14 is controlled by a leg 76 of a detector finger H (see also Fig. 1) mounted on a pivot pin 18 secured in the main frame structure M. The detectorfinger 17 is disposed in the region of the spray nozzle 38 and extends along the path of travel of the can bodies moving along the support and guiderods and rails II, l2 so as to be engaged by the outer surfaces of the bodies; The length of the finger I! is slightly greater than the space E between the bodies so that the finger bridges this space. A tension spring 8! (Fig. 1) between the leg it of the finger and the casing of the switch 14 forces the finger 11 toward and into engagement with the moving can bodies.

Aslong as the procession of can bodies advancing along the horn is substantially continuous, i. e. with each can body in place in properly spaced order, the bodies engage the detector finger and hold it in the position shown in Fig. 1

in which position it maintains the switch 14 in its normally closed condition. With the switch I4 closed, electric current passes from the generator 15 along the wires H, T2, 13 and the closed switch 14 and thus energizes the solenoid 63. The energized solenoid 69, through the bell crank lever 65 holds the auxiliary shield 6| in a retracted position away from the nozzle 38 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, against the resistance of a tension spring 82 (Fig. 3) stretched between the bell crank 65 and the drain pan 3|. Thus the nozzle 38, in conjunction with the disc 35 i per mitted to deposit the stripe of coating material onto the side seams B of the passing can bodies C as described above.

When one or more can bodies C are missing in the procession passing along the horn, the tension spring 8| of the detector finger 11 immediately rocks th finger into the path of travel of the bodies in the space made by the missing body or bodies. This inward rocking of the de-- tector finger 11 causes its leg 16 to open the switch 14. The opening of the switch break the electric circuit from the generator 15 and thus de-energizes the solenoid 69. The tension spring 82 connected to the bell crank lever 65 thereupon rocks the bell crank lever toward the drain pan 3| and this pushes the rod 62 inwardly and moves the auxiliary shield BI into a position over the nozzle 38 so thatit catches the spray issuing from the nozzle orifice 39 and diverts it back into the reservoir 35, unused. Thus, while the disc 45 continues to rotate, the spray from the nozzle is prevented from being projected up through the disc slots 46.

When the next can body C, after the space made by the missing body or bodies in the procession, advances into position for spraying it engages the detector finger l1 and pushes it outwardly into its normal position as shown in Fig. 1. This outward rocking of the finger, recloses the switch 14, re-establishes the electric circuit which re-energizes the solenoid 69 and thus through the bell crank 55, withdraws the auxiliary shield GI and permits the nozzle 38 to again perform its function of spraying the can body when it aligns with the slot 45 in th disc 45.

It is thought that th invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts with- 6 out departing 'irom -the spirit and scope o'! the invention or sacrificing all of it material advantages; the form hereinbefore described bein merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1. In a machine for stripe coating the outer surfaces of articles, th combination of a support fora plurality of articles, means for moving said articles along said support in spaced proce'ssional "order; a circular drain pan disposed beneath said support; a nozzle disposed in said drain pan adjacentth path of travel of said articles for projecting a spray. of coating material onto the outer'surface of each of said moving articles; a flat circular disc rotatably mounted in said drain pan and in concentricity with and covering the open top thereof, said disc beinginterposed between said support and said nozzl and having alternate elongated arcuate openings and imperforate sections proportioned and corresponding, respectively, to the length of said articles and the spaces therebetween; means for rotating said disc member in time with said means for moving the articles along said support to permit passage of said spray from the nozzle to said articles during passage of said articles adjacent the nozzle and to intercept said spray during the passage of said spaces between articles adjacent the nozzle; a shield disposed adjacent said nozzle and movable into a position over the nozzle to intercept and divert said projected spray; means fordetecting the absence of an article in th procession passing said nozzle; and means controlled by said detecting means for moving said shield into the path of said spray and thus prevent it from being projected into the path of the moving articles while a said opening in the disc, corresponding to the vacant article space in the procession, moves over the nozzle.

2. In a mechanism for stripe coating the outer surfaces of articles, the combination of a support for a plurality of articles, means for moving the articles along said support in spaced professional order; a nozzle disposed adjacent the path of 3 travel of said articles for projecting a spray of coating material onto the'outer surface of each of said moving articles; a fiat disc interposed between said support and said nozzle, said disc having alternate elongated arcuate openings and imperforate sections proportioned and corresponding, respectively, to the length of said articles and the spaces therebetween; means for rotating said disc member in time with said means for moving the articlesalong said support to permit passage of said spray from the nozzle to said articles during passage of said articles adjacent the nozzle and to intercept said spray during passage of said space between articles adjacent the nozzle; a shield disposed adjacent said nozzle and movable into a position over the nozzle to intercept and divert said projected spray; means for detecting the absence of an article in the procession passing said nozzle; and means controlled by said detecting means for moving said shield into the path of said spray to divert the spray and thus prevent it from being projected into the path of the moving articles while a said opening in the disc, corresponding to the vacant article space in the procession, moves over the nozzle.

3. In a mechanism for stripe coating the outer surfaces of articles, the combination of a support for a plurality of articles; means for moving the articles along said support in spaced processional order; a nozzle disposed adjacent the path of momma travel torrsaidfarticles tor-projecting *a" spray of coating material onto the outer surface of .each of: said "moving" articles;- a rotating fiat disc interposed between said support and said nozzle, said disc having alternate elongated arcuate openings andf imper-forate sections proportioned and corresponding; respectively; to thelength of-said articles and the 'spaces -therebetween'; means for rotating: said- "disc*memb'er in time "with said means for-moving the articles along said support to permit passage-of said spray from the nozzle tO'l-Said articles during passage of said articles adjacent= the nozzl'e -and to intercept-said spray duringh-passageof said spaces between'articles adjacent..the nozzle; fa:- =detecting finger'rh'aving :a longitudinal surface engageable with each of said article's 'and'xlonger r than a said space "between the articles for spanning said space and thus maintaining continuous engagement of said surface with at leastone"article-during anzimin terrupted procession of thearticles; a shield'movable into a position over said nozzle to intercept and divert the projected spray; and meanscontrolled by' saidfdetecting finger; when said finger is momentarily disengaged fromcontact with'any articledue to the absence of an'article from said procession, formoving said shield into position over said'nozzle todivert the spray and thus prevent' it" "from :being projected into the path of the moving 'aiticle's while a said opening in the disc; corresponding'to the vacant article space in the procession, moves across the nozzle.

'4. In a mechanism for stripe coating the outer surfaces of articles; the" combination of a support fora plurality of articles; means for moving the articles along said support in spaced processional order; -'a nozzle disposed adjacent the pathof traVel-of'said articles for projecting a spray of "coating" material onto the outer surface of each of said moving articles; arotating flat disc interposedbet'ween said support and said nozzle, saiddisc having'alternate elongated arcuate openings and imperforate sections proportioned and corresponding, respectively, to the length of saidarticles "andthe spaces therebetween; means forrotating said disc member in timewith said means for'moving the articles along said'support to permit passage of said spray from the nozzle to'said articles during passage of said article'sadjacent the nozzle and to interceptsaid spray'duri'ng the passage of said spaces between articles 'a'djacent thenozzle; a detectingfinger disposed adjacentthe path oftravel of said articlesand in'ehg'agement with said articles; a shield movable into a'position over said nozzle to intercept and divertthe projected spray; means for 'm'ovingsaid shield into said intercepting and diverting position; and'electricmeans interposed between saidnngerandsaid shield moving'means and controlling by said detecting-finger, when said finger. is momentarilydisengaged-from contact withiany article-due to the absence of an article from said procession; for setting said-shield moving-means inoperation to shift the shield into position over saidnozzle to divert the spray and thusprevent it frombeing projected into -the path of the moving articles while a said opening in the-disc; corresponding to the vacant article: space in'theprocession, moves across the nozzle.

-5. In a-machine for stripe coatingttheouter surfaces of articles, the combination of a. supportv fora plurality of articles; meansformoving saidarticles along saidsupport in 'spaced processionalorder; a nozzle disposedadjacent the'path of travel of said articles for projecting coating material onto the outer surface of each of said moving articles; a rotating fiat disc'disposed between said support and said nozzle', said disc'havingalternate elongated arcuate openings and imperforate sections proportioned and corresponding;respectively, to the length of said articles and" the spaces therebetween; means for rotating saiddisc member in time with said means for moving the articles along said support to permit passage of said spray from-thenozzle to said articles during'passage of 'said articles-adjacent the nozzle and tointercept said spray during passage of'said spaces between articles adjacent the nozzle; a V concave deflecting -shield mounted for reciprocation adjacent said nozzle; actuating means for reciprocating said shield towardand awayfrom said nozzle; anddetector means controlledbythe articles moving along said support for setting said actuating means operation to shift said concaveshield into'position over said nozzle, when an article is missing from saidprocession, to 'divertthe spray and thus prevent the spray from being projected'into the. path ofthe articles while a said opening in thedisc, corresponding to a vacant article space in said procession, moves over the nozzle.

WILLIAM P. WINTERS.

WILLIAM PECHY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,072,948 Gefls Mar. 9, .1937 2,334,624 Haven et a1. Nov. .l6," 1943 2,412,139 Fink et a1. Dec. 3, 1946 2,432,659 -Criswell Dec. 16, 1947 2,557,479 Smith" June 19, 1951 2,559,543 Muench July 3; 1951 

